Sale v. Meggett

25 S.C. 72, 1886 S.C. LEXIS 103

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: April 27, 1886
• Status: Published

Opinions

The opinion of the court was delivered by

MR. Chief Justice Simpson.

The purpose of this action was to foreclose a mortgage, executed by the Meggetts, defendants, devisees of James C. Meggett, late of Colleton County, and covering a certain tract of land located in said county. G. W. Klinck, among others, was made a party defendant, because he was in possession of the land, claiming as purchaser at sheriff’s sale, under an execution issued on judgment obtained against the executor of the said James C. Meggett, deceased. The plaintiff demanded judgment of foreclosure, that Klinck be required to account for rents and profits, and that the rights of the parties be adjudged. The Meggetts answered, admitting most of the allegations in the complaint, and joining in the prayer thereof; also alleging that Klinck’s judgment and execution was null and void and should be set aside. Klinck answered, stating that James C. Meggett during his life-time was indebted to Klinck, Wickenberg & Co., and that after his death his executor gave his promissory note for said debt, amounting to $231.15, as acknowledgment of said debt, upon which judgment had been obtained, and under execution issued thereon he had purchased the land in question, and to perfect his title he had also purchased said land at a tax sale, and now claimed that he was seized in fee, and prayed that he might be dismissed with costs. It was not proved that the answers of the other defendants, or any of the papers in the case except the summons and complaint, had ever been served on Klinck.

The case was referred by his honor, Judge Cothran, to the master to take the testimony and report upon the issues of larv and fact involved in the pleadings, with leave to report any special matter. The reference was made on motion of the plaintiff’s attorney. The attorneys of the parties, including those of Klinck, appeared at the different references, witli evidence and argument. It is stated by the referee that Klinck, through his attorney, objected to being called upon to meet the allegations in the answer of Mrs. Meggett, claiming affirmative relief against him, as said answer had never been served upon him; and also, as he claimed the land by paramount title, that the question of title could not be tried in a foreclosure suit, and that the parties should be left to their action at law upon the question of title. These objections were overruled by the master, and he made his report upon the whole case, stating the facts fully, which will be found in the “Case,” concluding with a recommendation that the mortgaged property be sold, the proceeds to be applied to the mortgage after the payment of costs, &c., and that Klinck be decreed to account for rents and profits from November 30, 1881, to be applied to the deficiency of the mortgage debt.

ITis honor, Judge Pressley, heard this report upon exceptions from Klinck. He decreed that Klinck, claiming as he did a paramount title under a judgment against the executor of defendants’ (Meggetts) ancestor, his title was good if the heirs were not in exclusive possession at the time, but bad if they were in such possession, which he held was a question of fact, upon which “Klinck was entitled to a trial at law', which he could not try, though all the facts were before him under the master’s report.” He therefore “ordered, that the case be dismissed as to Klinck without costs, he being a proper party, but dismissed only on his claim of trial at law. Further, that the remaining parties have leave to apply for such further order as may be necessary for foreclosing said mortgage.”

The plaintiff has appealed, denying Klinck’s right to a trial by jury, and claiming that the question of title raised by Klinck-was a mere incidental question raised in a case of acknowledged equity jurisdiction, which the judge had the right to try, and that he erred in not so holding. Besides, that Klinck by his conduct had waived a jury trial. And further, that the judge erred in not deciding that Klinck had no title, as appeared from the record, proved by himself, in reference to the sealed note taken from the executor in payment of Klinck, Wickenberg & Co.'s account against the deceased, which he had sued to judgment and under which he had purchased the land. And in holding that whether the possession of the heirs was exclusive possession of such a character as to prevent the sale on a suit against the executor, was a question of fact, &c. And further, in not deciding the questions of law and fact raised in the master’s report, and especially whether Klinck had not lost all claim against the estate, by his own inexcusable neglect in not pursuing the assets in ■time, &c.

It will be seen at once that the main and the. first question in the case is, whether Klinck was entitled to a jury trial, as to the title set up by him. There is no doubt of the fact that the title of Klinck to the land is involved here, and it is equally clear that where title to land is involved, the parties litigant have the right, as a general rule, to demand a jury, if they so desire; therefore, unless the position of the appellant is tenable, that this is an equity cause in all of its prominent features and purposes, and being so, it draws within the jurisdiction in which it is heard all questions arising therein and incidental thereto, like the one here, or unless a jury trial has been waived, then the law suggested above must apply.

The doctrine as to the first question seems to be this: where a title is set up which, if proved to exist as alleged, would be superior to the plaintiff’s title, then, in such case, the existence of such title is a matter for the jury, under the instruction of the judge as to the law involved; but where, even admitting' the title claimed by the defendant, as alleged, yet if it is inferior to that of the plaintiff, and as matter of law would not defeat his claim if sustained by the verdict of the jury, then there is no necessity for the judge trying an equity cause to submit the title to a jury, for the reason that, in fact, the title is not really involved, as the defendant can claim nothing under it, and therefore it would be wholly useless to encumber the proceeding with a separate trial in reference thereto; the judge himself may adjudicate the rights of the parties. Cruger v. Daniel, McMull. Eq., 157.

The question, then, of Klinck’s right to a jury trial, independent of the question of waiver, depends upon the fact whether he has set up a superior title to the plaintiff, or rather a title which, if proved to exist, as alleged by him, would in law defeat the plaintiff’s claim or right to a foreclosure. Now, he founds his title upon a purchase under judgment and execution against the executor of the deceased, whose land it is admitted was sold upon a debt which he alleges was a debt of the said deceased. Can the lands of a decedent be sold under judgment and execution obtained against his representatives on a debt of his ? They can under certain circumstances — briefly, where the lands have not gone into the possession of the heirs; otherwise they cannot. When they have gone into the exclusive possession of the heirs, although they do not escape liability for the debts of the ancestor entirely, yet they can then be reached only by a direct action against said heirs; before alienation a judgment against the representative having no effect, except to establish the debt against the personal assets.

In the case before the court it is true that Klinck has not alleged that at the time of his judgment against the executor and the sale thereunder the land in question had not gone into the hands of the heirs, and was therefore liable to the debt, yet he alleges that it was sold under an execution obtained against the said executor on a debt of the ancestor, and he claims to be seized in fee by virtue of his purchase under a sale made under said execution. And has he not the right to show by evidence all the facts necessary to his claim of seizin in fee, under the allegation of such seizin ? Whether his title would be good under that sale, would be a question of law applicable to the facts when found, but whether the evidence would show the necessary facts to bring his title under said law, would be a question of fact, upon which as it appears to us, he would have the right to demand a jury. For instance, whether the note given by the executor was intended as payment of the account, or a mere acknowledgment thereof, and whether the heirs were in exclusive possession of the land at the time of the sale, &c., would involve to some extent questions of fact for the jury, determining under the law whether or not Klinck’s title is superior or subordinate to the mortgage. Because if the judgment, as.matter of fact, was obtained on a debt of the ancestor, and the sale made before the heirs had taken exclusive possession, then it would be paramount to the mortgage of the heirs.

But these questions of fact cannot be tried by the judge. He could say what effect they would have as matter of law on the title, but before applying the law he must have the facts, and they can be solved only by a verdict. We do not think that this case falls under that class of cases where the title raised is a mere incidental question to the main issue and may be adjudged by the judge; but it is a case where a party has interposed a title, which if sustained (and that must depend upon- the facts in reference thereto), will defeat the opposing claim altogether. And it is therefore a question of paramount title, which if so, as the appellant admits, belongs to a jury. .

Next, did Klinck waive his right of trial by jury? Under the code a party may waive a jury trial in one of three ways : 1. By failing to appear at the trial. 2d. By written consent in person or by attorney, filed with the clerk; and 3d. By oral consent in open court, entered on the minutes. Code, § 288. In such waiver the court is authorized to try the case. There is no admission in the “Case” that Klinck waived his right by either of these modes. The position is that he waived it by “conduct.” The code does not provide for such waiver. But, besides, the judge did not try the question of title, which would have been his duty in case of a proper waiver, because the effect of such waiver is to throw the trial upon the judge. The judge here referred to the master all the issues of law and fact involved in the pleadings, for his report with leave to report any special matter. It is not necessary to determine here when a jury trial has been waived whether the judge could refer such a case to the master or a referee, because we have seen that there was no waiver here.

But independent of a waiver it may be said that all and any issues in an action may be referred by order of the judge. See Code, § 292. This is true with the limitation that such reference can be ordered only on the written consent of the parties, or where they do not consent, in cases involving a long account on either side where said accounting is necessary for the information of the judge, or where a question of fact other than upon the pleadings shall arise in any stage of the action. It cannot be contended that Klinck’s right of trial by jury was lost under either of the provisions above.

The question now arises, admitting 'that Klinck had not lost his right to a jury, does it follow that the case should have been dismissed as to him? We think not. Under the code an equitable issue and a legal issue may be involved in the same action. The plaintiff may combine an equitable cause of'action and a legal one in the same suit, and the defendant may set up a legal or an equitable defence to one or both, and they may be all tried — true, not on the same side of the court, but tried without the necessity of separating the causes and ordering a dismissal as to one with leave to bring separate action in reference thereto, if so advised. But the equity cause can be heard by the judge, and the legal cause or defence by the jury, as in a regular ease at law. Now, how does this principle apply to the case before us ? The plaintiff instituted his action upon a cause of equitable cognizance on the equity side of the court, the defendant was made a party, perhaps under that provision of the code .which enacts that any person may be made a defendant who has or claims an interest in the controversy adverse to the plaintiff, &c. And any persons claiming title or a right of possession to real estate may be made parties in an action to recover real estate. Code, § 139. See Douthit v. Hipp, 23 S. C., 205; Adger & Co. v. Pringle, 11 Id., 545.

The defendant claimed title adverse to the plaintiff. He was made a party defendant, he appeared and answered without protest or objection, and in his answer he set up a legal defence. Thus the issue ivas made up and was on the docket for trial. Why could not that issue be tried under the practice and principle suggested above, by simply witholding for the time the equitable cause and entering upon the legal defence, with a jury, as in cases at law ? Adickes v. Lowry, 12 S. C., 108; Smithy & Co. v. Bryce, 17 Id., 544; Chapman v. Lipscomb, 18 Id., 232; McGee v. Hall, 23 Id., 388. This mode of the trial of causes and defences is claimed to be one of the excellences of the code practice, as it dispenses with multiplicity of actions and economizes in matters of costs and expenses. We think under the section of the code referred to above (139), Klinck was legitimately made a party defendant. In fact, under the old equity practice being in possession, and claiming title adverse to the plaintiff, he was a proper party, so that the land, if ordered to be sold, might be sold free from a cloud overhanging it.

Appellant’s other exceptions involving errors assigned as to the facts, such as whether the heirs were in the exclusive possession, &c., we think are untenable for the reason, as we have already said, while the judge might charge the law upon such facts, the existence of such facts was a'matter of evidence— they were probative facts involved in the question of title, and should go to the jury.

The Circuit Judge seems to have passed upon all matters so far as the plaintiff and all other defendants, except Klinck, are concerned, in his order that the remaining parties have leave to apply for such further orders as may be necessary for foreclosing the mortgage, and the only matter left open is the title of Klinck, and his accountability for rents and profits. We concur with the Circuit Judge that Klinck’s title is a jury question, of course under the charge of the judge as to the facts necessary to constitute title in a case of this kind ; but we do not see why the ease should be dismissed as to Klinck, in order to give him the right he demands. It would involve unnecessary expense and delay to proceed with the foreclosure and then let the purchaser contest Klinck’s title in a separate action for possession. The parties are now all before the court, all questions at issue can be tried under the proceedure allowed by the code, without violating Klinck’s right to a jury.

.Tt is the judgment of this court, that so much of the judgment of the Circuit Court as dismissed the complaint as to Klinck be reversed, and that the case be remanded for trial by jury of the question of title raised by Klinck, and the amount of rents and profits, if the judge should hold him accountable therefor.

Mb,. Justice MoG-owaN concurred.